Eight team vie for Datuk Sim Kui Hian Cup 2017

KUCHING: The Datuk Sim Kui Hian Cup 2017 football tournament can serve as a perfect platform to scout and identify talented Chinese football players in the state, according to Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Youth Chief Tan Kai.

He said the tournament, to be held on Sept 23- Oct 29 at Jubilee Ground football field here, is also a call for the Chinese community to contribute to the game.

“We had Chinese football stars in the 70s like Datuk Soh Chin Ann, players from the Indian community and other races who had contributed and made Malaysian football great in the past,” he said.

“This tournament is a platform for the Chinese in the state to come forward and show their talent in football. Like now, we have Bumiputra players involved in the game of basketball, which is dominated by the Chinese,” he added.

Tan Kai said this after handing over the championship trophy to the organiser and the balloting of the tournament at SUPP headquarters here yesterday.

This year, the tournament is also participated by teams from other parts of Sarawak.

Tan Kai said Bumiput ra and foreign players were also allowed to take part to make the tournament more competitive and to promote diversity and racial unity in Sarawak.

Organising spokesperson Goh Tze Hui said a total of eight teams would be competing for the Cup this year.

They are defending champions Jinhua FC, Nanyang FC, Saints FC, IHUB FC, Newbies FC and three new teams – Kuching Old Boyz FC, Dahfa Rhinos FC and Kelab Rekreasi Sukan Fox Marina.

Goh said that the organising committee is trying to get more Chinese players to join and be active in football.

“Therefore, for this year’s tournament, the organising committee has decided that each team must have a minimum of three under-18 Chinese players and at least one in the first 11. We also allow two Bumiputra or foreigner in the starting lineup,” he said.

The tournament is joint ly organised by SUPP Youth Central and Persatuan Jasmani Tiong Hua Kuching ( KCPA).

Lea Sport Centre is the main sponsor and the tournament

GROUP A

Jun Hua Sport Club Nanyang United FC Kelab Rekreasi Sukan Fox Marina Dahfa Rhinos FC

GROUP B

IHUB FC Kuching Old Boyz FC Newbies FC Saints FC

FIXTURES Sept 23

Jun Hua Sport Club vs Nanyang United FC - 4.15pm

Sept 24

Kelab Rekreasi Sukan Fox Marina vs Dahfa Rhinos FC - 2.15pm Newbies FC vs Saints FC - 2.15pm

Sept 29

IHUB FC vs Kuching Old Boyz FC - 4.15pm

Oct 1

Jun Hua Sport Club vs Kelab Rekreasi Sukan Fox Marina - 2.15pm Nanyang United FC vs Dahfa Rhinos FC - 4.15pm is also supported by Football Association of Sarawak (FAS) and also Kuching Division Football Association ( KDFA).